Montecito School

We recently moved from Europe to California. We’ve been looking for a play based preschool for our 4 year old «full of power“daughter. We think it’s one of the best preschool’s in the bay area. Each class has his own playground an amazing bike trial and little pets like chicken, rabbits, lizzards, bullfrog… The teachers are very patient, experienced and very friendly to their little students. They also involving the parents on special person days, field trips, festivals…
they also make a lot of arts. Be prepared to take hundreds of wonderful Art’s home:) my daughter couldn’t speak a word in English however the teachers made her visit to school as comfortable as they can so she hadn’t any problems staying there without speaking English. They really care about an good relationship between teachers –parents– children. I would definitely recommend this school. Thank’s to Ms. Mobley and of course the Teacher’s who really care about their students.

No words can express what an amazing school Montecito is for kids. My son has been at this school for 2 years and he loves it. The staff are all very loving and Erin the director is so accommodating and will do anything to make parents life easier. It is a beautiful school with an amazing setting and just a pure paradise for kids. I love this school and so thankful for all the staff and all the care my son got there and is still getting. Thank you Montecito!

My son went to Montecito for 2 years and my daughter will do so when she’s old enough. The teachers are warm and truly love the kids even if there is a language barrier sometimes. The campus is gorgeous and truly inspires kids to explore. For new parents sometimes things are a bit confusing but if you ask questions you’ll quickly understand. I spent time volunteering and getting involved in the school and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the kids and the teachers and I am in love with the school now.
If you’re reading this and thinking about having your children join the school, consider having them come to a monthly Parent’s Night Out of the fall Harvest Festival or Spring Fling. Contact the school office for a schedule and registration information.

In reading some of the negative reviews of this school they seem to be very personality dependent from overprotective parents. As a man, I find mothers can interpret the slightest inflection the wrong way which is unfortunate.
Erin, the principal, is very caring and dedicated. I get direct and honest communication every time. She makes time to talk with me when I need it and has genuine warm affection. We have had conversations about difficult milestones for my kids and I always left feeling we were in great hands.
The class size is just right. There are very qualified people that spend hours preparing every day. There are also helpers that reduce the ratio to about four to one. It only takes one person that knows what they are doing to direct the class activities. The kids have access to a lot of materials and ideas that you just cant provide at home. I attend class occasionally and i’m exhausted just watching the pace at which things move. Its all very well thought out and well timed.
The teachers will always talk with you about the progress they see and have made some really good suggestions about parenting. They respond to emails and take phone calls and I feel like they are family. I have never felt this about any school before.
I looked at many pre-​schools in the area. I find the Montesori approach is to stifling for children. Get out the exercise, focus on it for long periods of time then put it away may work for some, but my kids need more tailored stimulation that is nuanced to their personalities. They get this here.
The staff have surprised me on many occasions with their flexibility and willingness to accommodate parents and their schedules and requests. Many of the teachers go to great trouble to make sure parents are made to feel welcome and they even provide child care so parents can go out in the evening.
Discipline is always a thorny subject for parents. I like the way in which teachers address kids, helping them understand how what they did affected the other kid and why seeking an authority figure is better than hitting back. I have no problem with calling my child’s name loudly across the playground if he about to crash into something. I do this all the time.
I am not a big fan of video games or TV for young kids. I have never seen a video game in the school. There are so many things for the kids to do and three playgrounds that they never run out of challenges or interests that engage all their motor skills.
The school goes to great trouble to produce a weekly lineup of activities and themes for the kids learning. Someone is doing a lot of homework! The field trips are great and parents participation is always high. I have been more than won over in the last two years by the consistent quality this school provides.

Montecito has been my family’s home for the past 3 years. My oldest daughter went here for 3 years and my youngest is in her 2^nd year here, and we love it. The teachers are so warm and caring. They take the time to really know my children and their interests/​needs. The classes are very play-​based, but still focus on developing the children and preparing them for school. In addition to the great staff, the campus is amazing. Each classroom has their own yard nestled under huge oak trees, along with a communal play area where they can bike and run around. This great outdoor area also allows the school to have areas for the children to take care of plants and animals. The way they teach the children on how to approach and handle animals is huge as well. In addition to all of this, I attended this school as a child and what it was based on has not changed over the years. I have found I am not the only alumni choosing to send my children to Montecito. In both my girls classes there have been multiple other parents I have been able to talk to about Montecito from their childhoods.
I highly recommend anyone looking for a great play-​based preschool with an amazing staff and campus.

We recently moved to Los Altos and put our son in the 5 year old program at Montecito. The 5 year old program has a wonderful student/​teacher ratio with 8 students and 2 teachers. My son is really happy here and looks forward to going to school every morning. He loves his teachers and the year is off to a great start! The campus is adorable with gorgeous oak trees and a little red schoolhouse and they incorporate animals as part of the curriculum. The children get to interact with chickens, lizards, guinea pigs, fish, etc. and my son has even brought home 2 eggs so far from one of the chickens which he absolutely loved. Each classroom has their own play area with age appropriate toys and there’s a big circular center for bikes and ride along toys. We couldn’t be happier with our choice.

Montecito is a great school.
My son has been going here for almost 3 years and loves it. He always tells me how much fun he had during the day. They do so many activities. My son comes home with a stack full of crafts, etc he did that day. Our second son will be going here too soon. He is loves playing here already.
All the teachers are so sweet. We love them all… past and present. When I pick my son up they greet me with a smile and give me updates on what happened and who he played with. They truly pay attention to each child. Also, my son loves to see his teachers… he is excited to tell them about his weekend or about his new shirt.
The school has the best play area I’ve ever seen. A huge playground for each class and a bike area in the middle with a tree kids can climb and swing from. They also have tons of animals (chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, lizards, etc). They also have lots of extra activities like festivals, singing presentations, parents night out, etc, etc.
I feel so lucky that we found Montecito. Thanks.

Montecito preschool is one of the best kept secrets out there!
My sons have been attending this school since last summer. Their summer camp offerings are out of this world and we enjoyed it so much last year that we are going to put them in for the whole summer this year. I cant wait to see Music and Magic camp again. My boys still have their capes.
The school reminds me of where I grew up back east. Its nestled in 2 ½ acres of oak trees, have every type of animal I would want around children (chickens bunnys, birds, turtles, fish guinea pigs etc). There are lots of space to run and each of the four classrooms has its own large play area. The choice of activities is wide and varied each child can pick what they prefer to do. My one son likes drawing and puzzles the other running and jumping. It really works well that its not an all fits one attitude. I have one child in the green room and one in the rainbow room. The teachers are great and have really helped my boys to grow socially and emotionally. I really like when i drop them off in the morning that if I have a concern the teachers really listen and pass on all the information. We are like a team.
Montecito has been a pleasure to work with. Even when I had some concerns about an after school program the director Erin promptly took action and helped with the situation. I am so excited that my daughter will be able to join her brothers this summer. She is going to attend the 2’s class two days a week. She gets so jealous when the boys leave for school and starts running around the kitchen yelling «me too schoo…» so funny.
I am so glad I found this school. It has been a great addition to my hectic family life and its nice to feel like you are working in tandem with your school and not slogging up a hill. Thank you Montecito!!!

I recently went to this school and saw what my freinds had been telling me about the wonderful animals, chickens, birds, rabbits, turtles on campus. I also was loving the gorgouse Oak trees and gardens they have for the children to experience nature. My freinds children attand preschool at Monteciito and are thrilled with their kind teachers. I wish that we had a preschool near my home with such a child freindly enviromnet as this campus. It would be perfect in Santa Cruz

Pros; Montecito preschool is awesome. The staff are always calm, loving, and focused on the children. My daughter is in class with Teachers Paula and Gayle. She loves her teachers and comes home happy, full of adventure stories in the gardens and with the animals. The school has numerous animals and critters, which the kids learn to observe and handle gently.
Cons; I only wish the school offered more language classes. They offer Mandarin class but I wish they also would offer French language for my daughter to learn.
All in all, I am beyond satisfied with the staff and the grounds at Montecito School. I highly recommend checking out if you have an up and coming preschooler.

My child has attended Montecito for two years now and I am totally content with the quality of partial-​day preschool education and care received there.
My child is a typical 4-​year old who likes to play with friends, push the limits, and receive praise when things go well – neither an angel nor a devil, but happily normal. At Montecito my child has grown in all ways, socially, emotionally, and academically (yes, there are developmentally appropriate pre-​school skills being introduced here, with encouragement and mixed in with LOTS of playtime). Potty training has been a struggle and there too we’ve received guidance without pressure (Montecito does not require kids be potty trained at any specific age and they support parents in making the leap when it is most likely to work for the child). Montecito’s services, programs, and facilities support a school community that is both child-​friendly and parent-​friendly. In two full years, never has my child NOT wanted to attend school. I am happy to sign up for a third year there.
The teachers have consistently provided clear, timely, and reassuring feedback and support (all have been competent, caring, and attentive and their communications to my child have been kind and respectful – in a word, professional). The facilities are wonderfully comfortable, with lots of outdoor play time, animals, plentiful and varied indoor activities, and developmentally appropriate progressions in the curriculum. When enrollments increased, staff support increased too, to where I have never felt my child got lost. There is predictability to the children’s 3 hours there in the form of a consistent order of activities (for example, 1. check in and play yard time, 2. story time, 3. child-​selected stations for exploration and crafts, 4. snack, 5. free play inside, 6. bike time outside, then 7. circle time with songs, sharing, birthday acknowledgments and goodbyes). The director of this 50-​year old family-​run school solicits feedback and is readily available and involved (a plus in my book). The children perform 3 adorable «concerts» a year (rain or shine, the kids are well supported in standing before their families, even if they’re scared at the new experience and never utter a word or move a hand – it’s all good!). I have my child sent over to extended care on occasion to extend the preschool day a few hours, an offering that is both helpful to me and also a great way to give my child more time with friends after class. I also attend special festivals and monthly Parents Night Out (children have dinner, listen to stories, do crafts, and just have fun together). This laundry list is just my way of saying I’ve sampled most of what Montecito has to offer and I am happy with it.
To reviewers who have had unsatisfactory experiences, I am sorry that Montecito did not meet expectations and hope the many preschool choices out there yield a better fit for your families. As for issues like the Los Altos Fall Festival volunteer (yelling at kids?!) and children using electronics in «backup care» (game consoles brought to Montecito?!) I can only wonder what aberration resulted in these incidences since I’ve never seen anything close to either type of behavior at Montecito events.

I can’t comment on their full-​time options, but this is not a good place for the backup care. Kids are free to take their game consoles there and play all day with other kids crowding around them to watch. The couple of days I put my kid there I have seen Nintendo, iPad, iPad mini, you name it. If I’m going to let the game console babysit my kid, why do I need to pay this school to do it? I don’t believe any self-​respecting preschools here should allow this to happen. Luckily Bright Horizon had an open spot so I pulled my son out of Montecito as soon as I could. My wife and I couldn’t be happier about this switch.

Los Altos Fall Festival — 10÷7÷12
I was there at when the festival opened this morning a bit before 10am. A lady who was working setting up the Montecito «booth» was barking orders at her two children. She clearly was a lady who expects everyone to follow her exact orders. If they’re not followed, you will get yelled at and talked down to. This was evident as my friends as I heard her speaking loudly (some would say yelling) at her two children and belittling them in a sarcastic and belittling manner.
I’m not sure if she is a teacher from the PreSchool, an Administrator, or a parent who was volunteering. Regardless of what role she has with that Pre-​School, I would NOT send my child there based upon what we witnessed today. My friends and I felt sorry for this mom’s 2 children, they will grow up eventually needing therapy!
Pre-​School and Kindergartens need teachers and Administrators who are nurturing and encouraging. My 1 star rating is based upon what we witnessed today which was outside of the school. This school may have great teachers but whoever they got to work for them today needs to be axed.

Gorgeous campus, nice rooms, love the animals. I really wanted to love this school … but we didn’t. We sought a warm, play-​based preschool where the teachers clearly enjoyed being with kids, and this just wasn’t it.
The structure struck me as rigid, and classroom organization and management routines often seemed more appropriate for elementary school than preschool. And some things seemed more for the benefit of parents. I nearly walked out of a performance held outside on a cold, rainy day. Parents sat under umbrellas, taking pictures of shivering kids.
Teachers never got down on level with kids to talk to them eye to eye. They often raised their voices to verbally discipline kids across the room and playground — I actually saw a teacher yell at a reserved child, across the play area, to «stop being so shy» and go play with some other kids. I was surprised they lined kids up in two lines by gender: a completely unnecessary distinction at this age. My son had a strong blanket habit, and a teacher abruptly told him one day while buckling him into the car that he couldn’t bring blankie anymore — he needed to be weaned off of it before kindergarten, absolutely, but that should have been done in concert with the family so we could support him together.
Montecito has a more rigorous academic focus than the two other play-​based preschools my family has participated in. By mid-​year, my son was bored with the repetitive classroom activities but felt pressured to complete each one anyway. Teachers assured me children had free choice in which activities to do and how to approach them, but my son told me differently and I saw no reason not to believe him. The walls were covered with nearly identical artwork by all the 4– and 5-​year-​olds.
I very much feel my child lost ground, particularly in social development, when we switched him to this school. He used to love school, and he headed off to kindergarten with a very different attitude.

Both my kids attended Montecito school, nice facility, very good play-​base education, the last but not the least, the great teachers. Mrs. Helen and Ms Q are awesome.

My child has attended Montecito for the past year in the two-​year old program, and we have been very happy with the school. The campus is lovely, and there are lots of fun things for the kids to play with. My son always comes home happy.
What I have appreciated most is the staff. The teachers have been accessible, professional and supportive. They helped us identify that our son had some sensory seeking behaviors that require OT; we probably would not have realized this on our own until later.

My daughter is in her second year at Montecito and we could not be happier. In fact, we recently moved from Mountain View to Los Gatos and continue to drive her up to Los Altos three days a week because we couldn’t find anywhere down here that we liked even half as much!
The developmentally based program is wonderful, and though it is not specifically academic the children are learning every day. Just this morning my not-​quite-​4 year old daughter commented that we were going north on the highway to get to school, so we’d be going south on the way home. When I asked her how she knew that, she said, «Mom, we have a GLOBE in our classroom!»
We love the place so much that I’d like to address some of the less positive comments here directly:
Teachers: We have found the teaching staff to be mainly warm and wonderful, with maybe one or two exceptions in assistant teachers (but I think that is the case everywhere?) My daughter and her friends have all adored the staff in the three classrooms she has been in. She often talks about wanting to invite her teachers to dinner, or to her birthday party, and every day when I pick her up she gets hugs and kisses and lots of very personal interaction from the staff on the way out.
Hours: Yes, this is a school and not a daycare center. If you want full time care, it’s not the place for you. BUT, if you work part time or have more flexible hours at your job (as many moms and dads do these days) I think it’s a perfect place for you. The regular classes are only two or three days a week for three hours at a time, but the aftercare is amazing. It is fully staffed like a regular classroom from 11:30AM until 6PM every day, and your child can go directly there after class (or be dropped off on a day they don’t have class) and stay as long as you need. You are charged $ 12.50 an hour in 15 minute increments. For days when you need a little more time for something, or you have an appointment or know you have an extra work thing, it is invaluable! They also have a lot of after class options that the kids love; my daughter is doing Little Hoopers basketball and a dance class which she does on her regular school days (makes it easier for me since I have a little one at home.)
Class Size: The classes all have around 20 or 25 kids in them, but with two teachers and two assistants so the ratios are exactly what they are at the other places I’ve seen. The classrooms and yards are big enough to accommodate.
Discipline: Though of course each teacher is a little different (which, again, is true in every school) I’ve found the disciplinary strategies to be very warm, very effective and surprisingly consistent from room to room. My daughter has been in three school year classrooms and went to summer camp this past summer; she is a tough nut and does sometimes act out a bit but I’ve found the teachers there to be very patient with her and always figure out how to motivate her toward good behavior without being really negative.
Director: Erin is great. Though she certainly has a big personality, you will find that it benefits the kids at the school tremendously. She is actively engaged, knows families and siblings and grandparents by name, and is a big positive presence on the campus every day. I can see her coming across as pushy, but I suspect it’s because she is the granddaughter of the founder of the school, as well as an alum herself, and she really believes in the place.
Can’t say much more, other than I will be sad when my daughter gets too old to attend!

i went on a tour here and loved the campus, but the director/​owner was a bit pushy, condescending and overbearing for my taste.

3.5 stars.
Pros: beautiful campus with trees and cute animals; shaded, separate playground for each classroom; play-​based program; lots of arts/​crafts and toys to engage the children; good practice for transitioning 2-​year-​olds from home to school environment
Cons: big classes (20+) though ratios are okay; teachers lack some warmth; teacher/​parent communication could be better

Pros: Beautiful campus and facility, detailed lesson plans.
Cons: Teachers are efficient but warmth and nurture is clearly absent.